What shampoo we use in our SPA?

At our Soggy Doggy Spa dog grooming salon in Pontypridd, we are committed to providing a grooming experience that goes beyond the ordinary. We understand that your furry companions deserve the very best, which is why we exclusively use NATURAL products that are CRUELTY-FREE and devoid of harmful chemicals.
Our dedication to using NATURAL products stems from a deep concern for the well-being of the dogs we care for. Dogs, like humans, can be sensitive to certain chemicals found in commercial grooming products. By choosing natural alternatives, we aim to create a safe and comfortable environment for your pets.
Cruelty-free practices are a cornerstone of our philosophy. We believe that no animal should suffer for the sake of beauty or grooming. That’s why we source products that have not been tested on animals, ensuring that our commitment to the welfare of all animals extends beyond the walls of our salon.
By embracing NATURAL and CRUELTY-FREE products, we also contribute to the health of the environment. Many commercial grooming products contain harsh chemicals that can be detrimental to ecosystems when washed down the drain. Our eco-friendly approach is not only good for your dog but also the planet.
Our goal is to establish a dog grooming spa that stands out in Pontypridd—a place where your pets are not just groomed but pampered in the most caring and natural way possible. We strive to offer more than just a grooming service; we aim to create an oasis where dogs feel relaxed, loved, and truly special.
In our pursuit of excellence, we constantly seek ways to improve and enhance the grooming experience for your dogs. We are dedicated to being the best in Pontypridd, providing top-notch care, attention to detail, and a commitment to the health and happiness of every dog that walks through our doors.
At our dog grooming spa, we don’t just groom dogs; we create an experience that fosters a strong bond between pets and their owners. Choose us for a grooming service that goes beyond the surface, leaving your dog not only looking great but feeling fantastic.

Why do we use Natural and Cruelty-Free products at our Soggy Doggy Spa?

Gather round, fellow dog enthusiasts! Let me spill the beans on why it’s utterly fab to use natural products for our four-legged chums.
In recent years, pet cosmetics have been changing faster than a Border Collie chasing after a tossed ball. You’re more likely to clock some ‘naturalness’ in the mix, at least in terms of the lingo. But, alas, it’s not always there in the packaging.
The delightful bit is that pet parents are leaning more towards healthier and well-balanced options for pampering their hairy offspring. They’re getting all intrigued about the whole shebang, making grooming decisions sharper than a terrier’s bark.
So, why opt for the natural stuff, you ask? Picture this: your pup, gambolling in a field of wildflowers, smelling as fresh as a spring morning. Now, imagine the alternative – your dog, bathed in goodness-knows-what chemicals, smelling like a mishap in a perfume factory. Not the image we’re aiming for, is it?
We’re all about treating your dogs to the good stuff – products that don’t play hide-and-seek with nasty chemicals. No animal testing on our watch. We’re as committed to that as a Labrador is to a tennis ball.
And it’s not just about making your dog look the bee’s knees. It’s about making them feel fabulous like they’re strutting down the canine version of a catwalk. We’re on a mission, dear dog lovers, to create a grooming haven right here in Pontypridd. A place where dogs get treated better than a spaniel in a room full of squeaky toys.
So, join us on this jolly good journey, where we’re not just grooming dogs – we’re turning them into the talk of the town. Because, let’s be honest, your fur babies deserve nothing but the crème de la crème of grooming. Here’s to happy dogs and wagging tails!

What are the benefits of using natural grooming products for animals?

Natural cosmetics are products primarily crafted from plant and mineral-based ingredients. These include oils, extracts, plant extracts, and essential oils. They can be used for the care of all types of skin and fur. They are safe for animal skin, preventing it from drying out and preserving its lipid barrier, provided that raw materials are selected appropriately and their concentrations in the product are balanced.
They also do not disturb other natural processes occurring in the skin. They do not clog sebaceous glands and, in addition, strengthen the protective barrier instead of breaking it down.
Most of them have a potent moisturizing effect, and it is extremely rare for them to dry out the skin. Such cosmetics rebuild the skin and fur from the inside out. Well-designed natural grooming products for animals work with the skin and fur, not against them.
Is a natural cosmetic for dogs always hypoallergenic?

As a rule, these are hypoallergenic cosmetics; nevertheless, it should be remembered that even natural cosmetics can cause sensitivities or allergies. Natural allergenic ingredients that may appear in natural cosmetics tend to have milder effects, and their presence in the formulation is easier to detect. Knowing the substances to which your dog is allergic, you can easily avoid products that may trigger such symptoms.
Who benefits the most from natural grooming products?
If your dog has dry, sensitive, oily, or seborrheic skin, opting for natural, herbal, and plant-based extract-based cosmetics is always a good choice. The risk of irritation, rash, and itching in their case is much lower than with conventional cosmetics.

Natural cosmetics are better!

Natural cosmetics typically consist of just a few ingredients. The simplicity of the composition, along with the richness of the best essential oils, herbs, and native plant oils contained in them, allows for the creation of well-balanced and nourishing products that care for your furry friend’s skin. All products have a pH suitable for animal skin. Increasingly, we opt for products that are based on natural active ingredients in line with the increasingly popular idea of ZERO WASTE

Why opt for natural care for your furry friend, and how does it differ from the conventional cosmetics commonly found in most pet stores?

Your pal’s skin and fur are not an impenetrable fortress but a vast organ that serves a plethora of functions. The skin absorbs ingredients applied through grooming and cleansing products, much like chemical additives from food are stored in your pet’s body. This means that artificial substances in conventional cosmetics, such as phthalates, parabens, paraffin, silicones, petroleum waxes, and others, go straight into their system.

Various issues like redness, breakouts, allergies, irritations, rashes, burns, and even hair loss don’t just pop out of nowhere. Steer clear of dog shampoos with synthetic detergents—like the highly popular SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) in the cosmetic industry. Switching to natural dog shampoos can help with issues like itching, dandruff, and dryness. Choose natural shampoos that contain only gentle plant-based detergents, preserving the lipid barrier and preventing irritations.

What’s wrong with grooming products for dogs and cats?

Most commercial grooming products for dogs, such as shampoos and conditioners, contain a high level of potentially toxic ingredients. Their only advantage is the immediate effect, which delights most pet parents. But is that really what matters?
A shiny, smooth coat right after a wash, coupled with a heavily synthetic fragrance—what more could one want? This is where we need to ponder whether we prioritize the well-being of our furry friends or the sheen of their fur, which, in the long run, may do more harm than good. It’s worth asking ourselves multiple times: do these quick effects truly not harm my dog? Will the ingredients in these products cause more damage in the long run than the immediate wow/glam effect? Am I really aware of what I’m applying to my dog’s or cat’s skin?
Well, it’s crucial to be aware that the goal of chemical ingredients used in shampoos and conditioners for animals is to transform them into effective and easy-to-use products, often at the expense of your pet’s skin condition and overall health.

Why do we think that chemical cosmetics are usually better and more effective?
Effectively cleanses the coat – read, you see a lot of foam and even more foam.
The fur is shiny and bouncy – read, it has a multitude of chemical ingredients that provide immediate results, but weigh down the hair, dry it out, and damage it.
Based on these beliefs, many cosmetics manufacturers for animals still seek the simplest and cheapest way to create products with the above properties using chemical agents. The problem is that, although they may be effective for their intended purpose, they have other long-term undesirable effects that are often left unspoken.

Detergents in commercial grooming products can cause many unwanted side effects for your furry friend. Cleansing detergents found in shampoos can “wash away” natural oils from the hair, leaving the skin dry and lifeless. So, what do you do to restore its shine? You apply a conditioner that adds gloss and sheen, but do you read the label before applying?
Perhaps it also contains synthetic ingredients that provide artificial shine instead of repairing your dog’s coat. In short, chemical ingredients are used to achieve results as quickly as possible. Your goal as a responsible parent should be to focus on the long-term health of your dog’s coat.
Not always is what is quickly visible as a good solution. Therefore, it’s worth remembering that grooming products for dogs, such as shampoos and conditioners with high concentrations of chemical substances, can cause irritation, redness, itching, and susceptibility to skin diseases for your furry friend.
The long-term side effects of these products may also include health conditions such as allergies, tumors, or hormonal imbalances. One example is the use of parabens, commonly used as a chemical preservative.
Parabens have been shown to disrupt the hormonal cycle, mimicking estrogen and potentially increasing the risk of cancer. Commercial conditioners also commonly use silicones that “coat” the hair follicle, giving the illusion of smoothness and shine. It’s just an illusion – as it’s the silicones that are shiny and smooth, not your pet’s fur.
Over time, these silicones accumulate on the hair, masking damaged and brittle hair underneath and clogging the skin pores.

The conclusion from the above article is that natural cosmetics are genuinely healthier and therefore better for your four-legged friend.
Natural cosmetics often have a different consistency than those with synthetic ingredients. They may be more liquid as they don’t contain artificial thickeners or salts that can dry out your pet’s skin. They produce less foam. The substances responsible for foam in traditional cosmetics are SLS and SLES, which are better avoided. So, if natural cosmetics don’t contain them, there’s less foam. But is that really a downside? It’s worth knowing that foam is just an illusion of cleanliness. More foam doesn’t mean cleaner, and certainly not better or healthier. Moreover, it saves water, as less is needed for rinsing. It also shortens bath time, which is crucial, especially for those furry friends who aren’t fond of it.
Natural cosmetics lack aggressive preservatives; they contain safe preservatives such as grapefruit seed extract or natural vitamin E. These products may have a shorter shelf life. Upon the first encounter with natural cosmetics, you might be slightly surprised that they didn’t work as quickly, didn’t stiffen or shine the coat as before the show, didn’t foam like crazy, or didn’t smell like perfumes for humans. Don’t be discouraged. Give it time and think that in the long run, your pet’s skin and hair will be smoother, healthier, less damaged, shiny, and beautiful. After all, it’s about the health and life of your furry friend.